The Diocese of Madison made a decision in early September to halt Catholic schools’ field trips to the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery’s Town Center because of stem cell research conducted at the center.

In a letter addressed to principals and pastors, Michael Lancaster, superintendent of Catholic Schools, said the decision was made after several parents and pastors expressed their concerns over the possibility of students handling embryonic stem cells.

While the Town Center offers many engaging education experiences for students, it also offers a workshop that allows students to culture live, “pluripotent” stem cells, which he said violates Catholic doctrine.

It would be possible to visit the Town Center and avoid participation in the stem cell workshop by attending other educational offerings that do not pose moral issues, but the question becomes whether or not patronizing an institution involved in embryonic stem cell research causes scandal and collusion with evil, Lancaster said in the letter.

After various consultations, it was decided that patronage of such an institution that is engaged in conduct contrary to Catholic teaching and doctrine would cause scandal for participants, the school and the parish, Lancaster said in the letter.

The Catholic Church is a “huge proponent” of stem cell research in which the death of a human life is not required, Diocese of Madison spokesperson Brent King said.

Previously, eight catholic schools participated in field trips to the Town Center. WID officials were not aware any were part of the Diocese of Madison, Janet Kelly, a Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation spokesperson, said. Three Lutheran schools have also visited the Town Center, she said.

Overall, around 100 schools have participated in field trips to the center, Kelly said.

The activities offered to students at WID include hands-on learning experiences that cover topics such as nanotechnology, physics, molecular biology and botany, she said.

She added WID supports a non-discriminatory learning philosophy that welcomes all students.

“We respect the decision of any child, parent, care provider, school or school district to determine if the educational programs offered at the Town Center are appropriate for their participation and educational needs,” Kelly said.

Lancaster said educational resources that would cover material on the same topics from WID lessons are “no more than a few keystrokes and mouse clicks away.”